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Lesser Festivals December (traditional language) | |||
| 6 December | Nicholas |
White
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Bishop of Myra, c.326
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| Collect | ||||
| Almighty Father, lover of
souls, who didst choose thy servant Nicholas to be a bishop in the Church, that he might give freely out of the treasures of thy grace: make us mindful of the needs of others and, as we have received, so teach us also to give; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. |
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| Post Communion | ||||
| The Post Communion of Bishops is used. | ||||
| 7 December | Ambrose |
White
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Bishop of Milan, Teacher of the Faith, 397
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| Collect | ||||
| Lord God of hosts, who didst call Ambrose from the governor's throne to be a bishop in thy Church and a courageous champion of thy faithful people: mercifully grant that, as he fearlessly rebuked rulers, so we may with like courage contend for the faith which we have received; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. |
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| Post Communion | ||||
| The Post Communion of Teachers of the Faith is used. | ||||
| 8 December | The Conception of the |
White
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| Blessed Virgin Mary | ||||
| Collect | ||||
| Almighty and everlasting
God, who stooped to raise fallen humanity through the child-bearing of blessed Mary: grant that we, who have seen thy glory revealed in our human nature and thy love made perfect in our weakness, may daily be renewed in thine image and conformed to the pattern of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. |
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| Post Communion | ||||
| O God most high, whose handmaid bore the Word made flesh: we give thee thanks that in this sacrament of our redemption thou dost visit us with thy Holy Spirit and dost overshadow us with thy power; strengthen us to walk with Mary in the joyful path of obedience, that we may bring forth the fruits of holiness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. |
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| 13 December | Lucy |
Red
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Martyr at Syracuse, 304
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| Collect | ||||
| O God our redeemer, who gavest light to the world that was in darkness by the healing power of the Saviour's cross: we beseech thee to shed that light on us that with thy martyr Lucy we may, by the purity of our lives, reflect the light of Christ and, by the merits of his passion, attain to the light of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. |
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| Post Communion | ||||
| One of the Post Communions of Martyrs is used. | ||||
| 14 December | John of the Cross |
White
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Poet, Teacher of the Faith, 1591
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| Collect | ||||
| O God, the judge of all, who gavest to thy servant John of the Cross a warmth of nature, a strength of purpose and a mystical faith that sustained him even in the darkness: shed thy light on all who love thee, granting them union of body and soul in thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. |
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| Post Communion | ||||
| The Post Communion of Teachers of the Faith is used. | ||||
| 29 December | Thomas Becket |
Red
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Archbishop of Canterbury, Martyr, 1170
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| Collect | ||||
| O Lord God, who gavest to thy servant Thomas Becket grace to put aside all earthly fear and be faithful even unto death: grant that we, caring not for worldly esteem, may fight against evil, uphold thy rule, and serve thee to our life's end; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. |
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| Post Communion | ||||
| One of the Post Communions of Martyrs is used. | ||||